Title: Never been kissed: a different story

Chapter seven: hidden feelings

Author: Jaycee

All the needed notes or whatever they are called are all in the first chapters. J

Note: Here's the next chapter!!! I am soooooooooo sorry for the long wait!  Hope you like them and thank you again for the support that you have shown me! They mean a lot!

ey guys!!! Don't forget to review this chapters!!! You know what I say… I need those reviews to boost my self confidence and I only get that from the reviews!!!

Josie woke up late that Sunday morning. She stood up and decided to call up the people that she needed for her crew.

She's also thinking of a way to not attend Sam's wedding knowing that she'll be tormented if she'll be the one to cover the wedding.

After taking a long shower and changing into a purple shirt and a pair of black sweats, she went to the kitchen to cook some lasagna to busy and calm her self down.

Thirty minutes later, she placed the lasagna into the oven and went to the phone to make her calls.

She assembled Merkin, his girlfriend, Rhoda, Anita, to be her assistant, and George to be the one in charge of the videos. She called other Sun Times photographers to help her and they all agreed to meet her at the Country Club tomorrow at ten o'clock in the morning.

Placing down the phone, she heard the bell of the oven ring, signaling that her lasagna was done. Taking it out, she inhaled the tangy aroma of the dish and placed it on the counter top.

After eating, she decided to go out and go to Lincoln Park and try to write her story there. Driving to the park, she couldn't help but think about Sam.

She was finally at the park, after going through an unusual traffic at the highway. Gathering her things, she went out of her car and went to the big elm tree at the middle of the park. She sat down and started writing her story.

* * * Sam jogged around Lincoln Park. He's been there for about an hour and he couldn't stop. He had a lot to think about and that was Josie.

After having a dreamless sleep, he knew that he had to get out of his apartment or he would go crazy in the deafening silence that overwhelmed him there.

Maria left a message on his machine saying that they couldn't get together that day since she has a thing with her friends today and that she'll call him tonight.

He was more than relieved since he couldn't bear seeing her today, knowing that he couldn't go through their wedding.

As he jogged, he noticed a blonde woman sitting under an elm tree. She looks like Josie. Sam shook his head at his imagination. 'I've been thinking about Josie too much that's why I'm seeing her everywhere!' he told himself.

But when he got closer, he saw that it was indeed Josie.

With the way that he was running into her, his heart was having a hard time in keeping itself from pounding too hard.

Sam smiled and tried to walk calmly towards her. "Hey Josie!" he called out, hoping that she wouldn't notice his voice shaking.

She looked up, confusion on her face. She didn't hear anyone approaching her since she was too wrapped up in what she was doing. Seeing Sam looking down at her, all she could do at first was smile, even though she was really hurting inside. "Hey!" she said warmly.

Feeling encouraged, he sat down beside her. "What are you doing?" he asked, wiping his face with his towel.

"I'm just writing my story about you guys." She answered, not looking at him as she continued to type into her laptop.

"Oh…" was all he could say at the moment. He was totally aware of Josie's presence beside him and he couldn't erase the image of gathering Josie into his arms and kissing her senseless. "What are you doing here?" he heard her ask him, rendering him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, um…I'm jogging!" he answered as he smiled at her.

She nodded and went back to her typing.

"So, how's the article?"

"I'm almost finished with this one about how you guys met."

"Oh, really? Can I read it?" he asked, trying not to sit too close to her.

Josie looked at him and said, "Sure! It's about you guys after all. Just wait okay?"

"Sure!" he answered, feeling light headed, as he smelled Josie's perfume.

A few minutes later, Josie finished her article and handed her laptop to Sam. Sam smiled at her as he reached for her laptop. He started to read it as Josie busied her self with scribbling down things in her notebook. Not really reading the article, he observed Josie at the corner of his right eye.

She was writing in her notebook and she kept on brushing her hair out of her eyes. Exasperated at her unruly hair, she looked into her bag and got her self a brush and she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

She looked so lovely with her hair up and Sam couldn't help but feel like he was with the most beautiful woman in the whole world. She wasn't wearing make up, just a dab of lip gloss maybe, but other than that, her face was free.

Her cheeks had that natural rosy glow and it made Sam want to graze her face with his fingers, just to feel her soft skin.

She was wearing a pair of pants paired with a white shirt and blue flip-flop sandals. She was so simple, yet, so stunning all at the same time.

He noticed that she was almost finished with writing in her notebook so he went back to reading her article.

It was very well written. She made their story sound so romantic and whimsical, making the reader wish that they have a special someone of their own.

He couldn't help but wish that instead of Maria, Josie would be the one that he's going to marry.

As he finished the article, he noticed Josie looking at him expectantly for his reaction. He handed the laptop back to her and smiled, looking into her eyes. "That was very well written Josie."

"Really? I was worried about the second paragraph."

"Oh, you shouldn't be. The article was well constructed and your use of words was very good. You make the reader feel like they were there, watching as Maria and I met."

Josie blushed. "Well, I'm glad that you approved, Mr. Coulson!" As she said that, they we're both immediately uncomfortable, both remembering the days when Josie pretended to be his student.

Sam looked down at his hands and tried to think of a way to break the tension. "How about ice cream, Josie?" he asked.

Josie smiled. "Sure!" Sam stood up and held out a hand to help her up. Josie hesitated for a while, but took his hand anyway.

They both felt electricity course through their system that the moment Josie was up, they immediately let go of each other. She started to reach for her bag but Sam stopped her. "Here, I'll get it!" Sam offered, reaching for her bag and slinging it to his right shoulder. Sam heard her giggle, so he turned to look at her self-consciously, wondering why she was laughing. "Why?" he asked, his left eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I'm sorry! It's just that my bag's all flowery and stuff and well…. it makes you look kind of…" she trailed off, a blush creeping to her cheeks.

"Gay?" he finished for her, an amused smile on his face.

"Yup! Gay!" she said, laughing harder now. Sam laughed too; amused at the situation they were in.

They were finally relaxed around in each other's company, and it made Sam laugh even more,even though what they we're laughing at was really shallow. He was so happy now than he ever was before.

* * * Josie couldn't stop laughing at the image of Sam carrying her bag. It was not until they were in front of the ice cream stand that Josie composed her self and laid a hand lightly on Sam's forearm to stop him from laughing. He finally did, and looked at the vendor. "One creamsicle please."

"And, for your lady?" the man asked.

Josie blushed at the vendor's mistake, but still she felt a warm sensation of pleasure over hearing the words about her being Sam's lady.

Sam smiled at her and asked, "Fudgesicle?" she nodded, and smiled since he remembered that she loves chocolate.

Ice cream in hand, they started walking towards the side of the park, where benches were to be found. She sat on one of the benches, and she faced Sam, as she continued to eat her ice cream. "So, you still like Shakespeare?" he asked.

"Yes, actually, I just saw a play last month. It was held by a group of young actors and actresses. They did "The Taming of the Shrew."

"Really? I love that play! Was it good?"

"Yup! They took a different look at the play. Making it more modern so that other teenagers can understand Shakespeare more."

"I wish I saw it. Was…Mark with you?" he asked tentatively, not meeting his eyes.

"Yes, he was with me. But, he never did like Shakespeare. He actually slept through most of the play." She answered sadly, as she remembered that night.

"Oh, that's sad Josie. How could he sleep through a Shakespeare play? I know I wouldn't!"

"Yes, I know you wouldn't." Josie looked down at her hands, blushing at what she just said. Deciding to change the subject, she asked Sam about Dartmouth. "So, how's teaching in Dartmouth?"

"Oh, it's really fun! There are students who like me, love Shakespeare. It's very different from teaching in high school, since this kids knows what they want. Unlike high school students, who tend to slack off and not pay attention to their studies. There are students like that too, in college, but not that many. I'm having a great time there but I do miss high school sometimes."

Josie noticed the wistful expression from his face and decided to make him feel better. "Then, why don't you go back to high school? I'm sure many students will love to have you as their English teacher, since you really have a way with them."

"Thank you Josie! That means a lot, coming from you." He said, looking into her eyes.

Josie took in a deep breath, and looked at her watch, to break off their eye-to-eye contact. "Woah! Look at the time! It's four thirty already! I've been here for longer than I thought!" she exclaimed.

"It is? I guess we better go!" Sam said, as he started to get up. "Where's your car?" he asked her.

"Oh, it's there right in front of the entrance. You? Where's your car?"

"I walked here." Sam explained.

"Oh, why don't I bring you home then?" she asked, then, she mentally kicked her self for suggesting such a thing. 'Josie! He's getting married, you dope!' she said to her self. She saw Sam's face glow to her suggestion.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"Sure, I wouldn't mind." She answered, smiling. They walked in silence to her car. Josie walked over to the driver's side and put in the key.

Sam surprised her walking beside her and opening the door for her. "Oh, thanks!" she said as she got in, with Sam closing the door after her. She reached for the lock of the passenger side and let Sam in.

"Thank you for doing this Josie." He said, as he buckled in.

"Your welcome! So, where to?" she asked, starting the car.

"Um…take a right at Sixth Avenue then go straight."

"Really? That's really close!"

"Yah, that's why I walked."

Josie laughed. "Of course!"

* * * Sam couldn't believe his luck. Here he was inside the car of the woman he loves. He looked at her as she started her car.

She looked at the side mirror at his side and frowned. "Um…Sam. Can you fix that mirror?" she asked sweetly.

"Oh, sure!" He rolled down the window and reached out for the mirror. The only problem was, it wouldn't budge. "Um…Josie…. it wouldn't move." He said, looking at her as he tried the mirror to budge.

"Oh, wait! I'll do it! It's like that. It must need oil or something." She said, and then she reached out and tried to move the mirror.

Sam backed up to his chair as Josie reached out for the mirror. She was so close that he got a whiff of her perfume and the smell of her hair. He inhaled softly, hoping that Josie wouldn't move yet. She didn't. She was still trying to move the mirror.

Sighing, she sat back on her seat and held on to the steering wheel. "Let's just go! There's the rear view mirror anyway." She said as she backed the car from the parking space. They were quiet the whole ride towards his apartment, but to Sam, it was okay. He was contented with just being with Josie.

He pointed to his apartment and told Josie to go to the basement where his car was parked. He pointed to his car and she parked behind it. She turned off the ignition and faced him. He faced her too, and then said, "So, thanks!"

"You're welcome! See you tomorrow?"

"Yah! Bye!" he said as he opened the door and stepped out. He stood at one side and waited for Josie to drive away.

* * * Josie smiled at Sam once more and started the car. The car started for a while but died immediately. She tried two more times, but it still wouldn't start.

She saw Sam walk to her side and gestured for her to roll down her window. "What's the problem Josie?" he asked.

"It wouldn't start. Probably the battery. It's been doing this to me for a long time now, but I haven't got the time to bring it to the shop." She explained as she got out of her car.

"Well, I could give you a jump start, but you blocked my jeep's way." He said, as he pointed to his car.

Josie smiled sheepishly, "Oh, yah! Sorry about that!"

"No, that's okay! Why don't you come up and call the auto club so that your car would be towed."

Josie shook her head, knowing that she couldn't go to his apartment with the way she feels about him. "No, that's okay! I got my cell phone here!" she said as she reached for her bag, got her auto club card and her cell phone. She dialed but the recording message said that she has no signal. "No signal!" she exclaimed, throwing her cell phone into her car in annoyance.

"Of course there's no signal, we're in the basement. Come on up to my apartment." He invited, as he shut the doors of the car.

"Okay!" she said as she followed him up, feeling her pulse race and her hands shaking, in the prospect of going into Sam's apartment.

* * * Sam opened his apartment door. He almost knocked him self on the head for bringing Josie into his apartment. He turned to look at her, "Come in! Make yourself comfortable. Do you want anything? Water, soda, chips…?" he realized that he was rambling and he prayed that she didn't notice.

"Um…a soda would be nice!" she answered as she sat on his couch. Sam smiled and went to the kitchen to get her a soda. When he came back, he saw her looking at his bookcase.

"Hey, Catcher in the Rye! I love this book!" she exclaimed as she reached for the glass of water.

"Yah! Me too. I read that book when I was just in high school, but I never did grow out of reading it again and again." He explained as he went to get the wireless phone.

"I still have my copy with me too. I still read it." She said as she sat down and took a sip of her soda.

"Here's the phone!"

"Thanks!"

He listened to her as she got connected to a representative. "Yah, my car needs to be towed. My card number is 555-6690-0898. Yes, it's Josie Geller. I think it's the battery. The address? Oh, wait." She said as she handed him the phone.

He took it and talked to the operator. "Yes, um…the address is 1302 Sixth Avenue. Phone number 555-2227. Um…no…I'm not her boyfriend. Why do you ask? No. I'm not Mark Springsteen. Yah its okay." He smiled at her as he gave her the phone.

Meanwhile, Josie was blushing. She forgot that Mark was known there at the auto club since his father was a stockholder of the company.

That makes her quite popular there too, since he had introduced her there when they held a company party about five months ago. S

he smiled at Sam and thanked the operator, who said that she would call her back to let her know what towing company would come and get her car.

When she hanged up, she looked at Sam and was surprised to see him looking at her. "Why?" she asked, not daring to look into his eyes so she looked down on her hands.

She suddenly felt Sam's hands touching her chin and made her look at him. She stared into his eyes and waited for him to talk. "Josie…. I just wanted to tell you… that…. I'm…. what I mean is…. That. Okay, here it is…no more babbling. I just wanted to say that I'm so sor…."

He didn't get to finish his sentence since the ringing of the phone jarred them both. "Hello? Oh, okay. Wait a minute!" he said, "That was fast!"

Turning to Josie, he handed her the phone. For one magical instant, their fingers touched, and Josie felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins.

She got the phone and learned that the towing truck would be there in approximately five minutes. "Um…they said that they will be here in five minutes so… let's go!" she said to Sam and started to walk to the door.

"Oh, okay!" he answered and led her to the basement.

* * * Sam followed Josie to the parking area. He was about to tell her everything but the phone interrupted them. 'Damn!' he swore to himself. He couldn't believe that the Mark and Josie relationship was so popular that even the auto club representative knows about them.

When the woman asked him if he was her boyfriend, he was so tempted to say yes, he is. But he stopped himself just in time. He saw Josie sit down on a step and he followed suit. 'Okay Sam! It's now or never!' he told him self. He still has five minutes before the tow truck would arrive.

He faced her; their faces now dangerously close, since the step was so small. "Josie… look… I'm so sorry for not coming to the baseball field to kiss you two years ago. I was an idiot! My feelings were hurt and I didn't know about your article until I was in Racine with my parents. But I was just too scared to go to you and say I'm sorry because I'm so afraid of rejection. So here I am, saying that I'm so sorry for being such a jerk and I hope that you'll accept me to be your friend again." He finished his speech, looking at Josie for her reaction.

She was just sitting there, tears pooling in her eyes. "Sam… I've been waiting for such a long time for you to say that. I forgive you. And, yes, we could be friends." She said, smiling at him with that wonderful smiled of hers.

As he smiled back, his right hand reached out to her face, knowing that he couldn't help it; he grazed the side of her face. He felt her shiver under his touch. Her skin was so soft, and suddenly he was very aware of the fact that their lips were only inches apart. "Sam…" he heard her whisper.

He felt like she was okay with what was going to happen. He looked into her eyes. It was saying dangerous things to him. His fingers slowly went to her neck, pulling her even closer to him. He closed his eyes, as he leaned in to kiss her. He know he shouldn't, that it was wrong, but he couldn't stop this. Deep inside, he felt like kissing Josie was the right thing to do.

Suddenly, a horn blared, bringing him and Josie back to reality. Josie suddenly stood up and went to the driver as she showed him her card. Without her by his side, he suddenly felt bereft. He longed to have her near, to hold her close and to kiss her passionately. He closed his eyes and breathed in hard.

He opened his eyes, looked at Josie and called out, "Josie! Why don't I bring you home?"

"No! I can manage! Thank you Sam! The driver already told me that he can bring me home." She answered, as she started to climb into the tow truck.

He felt like she was escaping him. He nodded, and waved at her. As soon as the truck was out of his sight, he trudged heavily up the stairs, back to his apartment, knowing that this was again going to be another lonely night.

* * * Josie walked into her apartment that early evening. Her cheek was still tingling from Sam's touch. It felt so right when he grazed her face.

When Mark touches her, all she could think of was move away. And then, he was about to kiss her. It was so close, and she knew that she wanted him to do kiss her.

She wanted his kiss more than anything she has ever wanted in her life. She knew that he was still the one she was supposed to kiss for the rest of her life.

But, it was still a good thing that the tow truck came when it did. She couldn't let Sam kiss her when he was still engaged to be married. It was obvious to her that they we're still in love with each other.

She has to break things off with Mark first, and then tell Sam how she feel and ask him how he feels.

Everything is up to him after that, since he's the one who's getting married. She hopes that he will choose her, even though it was wrong. She changed into a peach nightshirt and held her stuffed penguin, placing a kiss on top on its head. Her mind was made up. She was going to break things off with Mark. She snuggled deep into her pillows and fell asleep.